Connecting rod



Feb. 10, 1942. H. c. HILL CONNECTING ROD Original File d rils, 1938-'NVENTOR HENRY 63111 ATTORNE flanges i8 and means, notshownengaging Vadequate lubrication-oi the. rod

1 system, each bearing Patented Feb, 10,- 1 942 UNITED STATES? PATENT vopin l r commccrme non -Henry 0. am, Montclair, N. 1;, assignmwwrig t:

Aeronautical orporation, a-corporation-of New Yonh I Original,application April 9," --19ss, Serial No;

201,093, nbwratent Ito- 2,239,039, dated April 22, 1941.- Divided and.thll tember 2, 1939,'SorialNo. 293,2.

application 18 c ims (on. co m) This invention relates to connectingrods for radial cylinder engines, comprising improvements in means'forsealing andlubricating the} V bearings of radial cylinder engineconnecting rods.

' An object isto provide means for lubricating annular "bearing memberwhich in itself is rotatable upon a crankpin, the lubricating provisionsincluding means to prevent excessive bleed of oil fed from a crankpinbearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide "endseals ina connectingrod bearing to prevent undue loss by oil bleed therefrom, and to utilizethese end seals inconnection with the lubrication of individualconnecting rods articulated in Figs rand a Fig. is anenlargedfragmentary section of a portion of Fig. 4.

Referring to thedrawing, the crankpin of a crankshaft is indicated atHi, this having a left hand crankcheek H provided with a sealing, facei2 and a clamped cheek I43 provided with a sealing face engagementtherewith, and ii having, respectively, central abutting embraced byopposed similar track members 22, each of which includes are all lockedtogether from relative rotation.

The members 22,'when assembled, comprise J an inner circumferentialtrack 26 and opposed,

facing grooves 21 forming raceways. 'Within the latter are disposedsegmental bearing blocks 28 bearing on the inner and outer groovefaces,'the blocks 28 being provided with bores toreceive a crosspin 29upon which is mounted aconnecting rod 30. The pin" may eitherbe'integral with the rod 30 or may be loosely fitted thereto, and itwill be seen that operating pressures upon each rod 30 are-transmittedthrough the pin 29 and the blocks 28 to the groove faces of the bearingmembers 22. The inner end of eachcone necting rod 30 is the track 26.

To provide for vmember'22 is provided apparent reading:- I

l4. On the crankpin, in bearing are bearing halves ii I a bearinghousing 23; The housings-23 and the bearings l6 and H 'a rod systemcomprising a plurality of indi-,r viduallv movable connecting rodsmounted in an tween the end of the oflwhich is drilled'as at with anannular end cavity 40-, the outer wall I 42- at a plurality oicircumferentially spaced pointsto'permit of ell feed from the cavity tothe block groove 21 Within the cavity 44 or smaller (ii-- forlubrication of the blocks. "o isdisposed a sealing ring ameter than,the/outer wall of the cavity 40, this ring being provided witha splitring 46 seated in a groovethereinand bearing upon the wall of the cavity'40. A waved spring 48 besealing. engagement [2 and i4, and oil,bleeding from the space between the crankpin l0 and the bearings l6 andI1 passes into the cavity ,40, lubricating the end seals through holes49 and'passing through certain of the holes 42 for lubrication oitheblocksia. By the loose fit oi ,the ring, in the member thrownradially outward from through part oi 22 itwill tendrto be the crankpinby centrifugal force, thus closing oi! the outermost holesr42to preventthe passage of oil therethrough, but opening theinriermost holes 42 forthe passage of lubricant; 'Since centrifugal force will build asubstantial pressure at the outermost portions: of the cavity 40, thiseccentric axiahsection oa the-iiweksealing'mrangemenepreventsunduebleeding'oi oil from: the cavity while permitting0! oil flow to the bearing members 22 at the radially inward partsthereof where the centrifugal force is relatively low. It is to beunderstood that the crankpin 10, according toconventional practice,

a is hollow'to provide an oil manifold, and that IS. The bearings. l6and I] are the ring 44 relative to a drilling such as 50 in thecrankpin'provides for the flow of ,oil to the crankpin hearing. The ring46 remains in contact with the wall of the cavity 40 to seal the ring44, outboard of the holes 42, regardless ofthe eccentric position of thebearing-member.

r In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 I show an oil seal organization comparable tothat. above described, but aparticulated thereto onplied to aconventional connecting rod assembly 60, and auxiliary rods 62 g gknuckle pins 63. In this case, the master rod carries a crankpin bearingutilizing a master rod 64 bearing upon the cr'ankpin-IB. One end face ofthe masterrod is provided with an end seal element 65 hearing against aco-acting sealing face on acrankcheek 65, this end seal preventing unduebleed of lubricant from that end of the bearing 64 during operation. Theopposite end of the rod 60 is provided with an annular member 68 havingradial extensions 10 engaging, through screws "H, the ends of theknuckle pins 63," the annularmember 68 providing means for-lockingstabilized against tipping by .the knuckle pins in assembled relation inthe rod .80; As'shown in Fig. 5, the member 68 is pro vided with anendannular cavity 12 within which is seated an endsealannulus I3'adapted to slide housing portion 23 and an inwardprojection of the ringurges the "latter; outwardly into end with the crankcheek faces sion "I9having teeth 80 axially relatively to the member 68 and to bear at itsface 14 upon a co-acting face on the crankcheek 16. The annulus 13 isconstrained against rotation in the member 68 by lugs 88 on the annulusengaging notches 89 in the member. .The face 14 has oil holes 98 forlubrication of the face from oil in the cavity 12. A waved spring 11,interposed between the annuli 68 and 13, urges the latter annulus intosealing engagement with the crankcheek 16, preventing undue leakage ofoil from the left end, as shown, of the crankpin bearing 64. Pressureexerted by the spring I1 reacts between the annulus I3 and theconnecting rod 60, to assure end sealing contact between the seal 65 andthe right hand crankcheek.

The annulus 68 has an inward annular extenengaging corresponding teeth8| formed on the end of the bearing 64, whereby the bearing 64 is lockedfrom rotation relative to the connecting rod 68 since the annulus 68 isfirmly attached to the connecting rod.

The extensions 10 from the annulus 68 are provided with radial drillings83 leading from the cavity 12 to the knuckle pins, so that that oilwhich accumulates in the cavity 12, as well as lubricating the end seal14, passes to the knuckle pins for the lubrication thereof throughdrillings 84, 85 and 86 in the knuckle pin assembly.

It will be appreciated that the lubricating provisions for the rodembodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, on the one hand, and Figs. 3 to 5, on theother hand, have many features in common, and may generally .beconsidered as a generic form of lubricating system for radial connectingrod arrangements of virtually any type.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferredembodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, afterunderstanding my invention, that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Iaim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 201,093, filedApril 9, 1938, now Patent No. 2,239,039.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a radial engine connecting rod.system, a shaft having a crankpin,a bearing member journalied thereon and having an annular cavitytherein, said member having a plurality of circumferentially spacedsubstantially radial oil holes leading from the cavity toward theoutside of the member, means for feeding oil to said cavity, and aloosely fitted ring in said cavity positioned to bear upon part of theouter wall of the cavity and to seal the oil holes adjacent to itscontact with the wall, said ring, during crankpin rotation, being thrownradially outward by centrifugal force against that part of the cavitywall most remote from the shaft center.

2. In a radial connecting rod system, a shaft having a crankpin and acrankcheek, a bearing member on the crankpin having an annular cavityopening toward the crankcheek, said member having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced holes communicating with the cavity, means tosupply lubricant to the cavity, and a loosely fitted seal ring bearingupon a portion of the cavity wall to close oif some of said holes, saidring bearing on the crankcheek to seal said cavity from end leakage ofthe lubricant.

spaced holes communicating with the cavity, 7

means to supply lubricant to the cavity, a loosely fitted seal ringbearing upon a portion of the cavity wall to close oflf some of saidholes, said ringbearing on the crankcheek to seal said cavity from endleagage of the lubricant, and a split sealing ring carried by the firstring for sealing engagement with the entire circumference of the cavitywall between the crankcheek and the holes in said member.

4. In a connecting rod big-end bearing journalled on a crankpin havingplane crankcheeks at the bearing ends, annuli disposed between thebearing ends and respective crankcheeks having sealing engagement withboth, means for lubricating the bearing centrally thereof, and meansincorporated in said sealing annuli to utilize bearing oil bleed forlubricating the sealing faces thereof.

5. In a crankshaft and connecting rod system comprising a crankpin and arod member journaled thereon, said member having an annular passage andoil holes opening to the outer parts of the passage, an annulus looselyfitted in the passage adapted to fling against the outer parts of theannular passage, during shaft rotation, to close off certain of said oilholes.

6. In a crankshaft and connecting rod system comprising a crankpin and arod member journale'd thereon, said member having an annular recesstoward an end which includes a cylindrical wall having a plurality ofcoplanar openings, an annulus loosely fitted within the recess foreccentric movement relative to the crankpin and for engagement with thepart of the wall most remote from the shaft center under the influenceof centrifugal force to seal off the outermost openings said wall.

'7. In a crankshaft and connecting rod system comprising a crankpin anda rod member journaled thereon, said member having an annular recesstoward an end which includes a cylindrical wall, an annulus looselyfitted within the recess for eccentric movement relative to the crankpinand for engagement with the part of the wall most remote from the shaftcenter under the influence of centrifugal force, said member havingcircumferentially spaced holes opening through the wall certain of whichare closed off by said annulus.

8. In a crankshaft and connecting rod system comprising a crankpin and arod member journaled thereon, said member having an annular recesstoward an end which includes a cylindrical wall having-a pluralitycoplanar walls, an annulus loosely fitted within the recess foreccentric movement relative to the crankpin and for engagement with thepart of the wall most remote from the shaft center under the influenceof 3. In a radial connecting rod system, a shaft centrifugal force toseal of! the outermost openings in said wall, said annulus having agroove and a split ring in said groove in sealing engagement with saidwall throughout its periphery.

9. In a crankshaft and connecting rod system 8 comprising a crankpin anda rod member journaled thereon, said member having an annular recesstoward an end which includes a cylindrical wall, an annulus looselyfitted withinthe recess for eccentric movement relative to the crankpinand for engagement with the part oi the wall most remote from the shaftcenter under the influence of centrifugal force, said member havingcircumferentially spaced holes opening through the wall certain of whichare closed off by said annulus, and means to seal said annulus withrespect to the wall throughout the periphery of 5 both, in a planeaxially removed from said holes.

'10. In a connecting rod bearing lubrication system, a crankpin journalfrom which lubricant is fed to the surface thereof, said journal havinga substantially plane end. face, a connecting rod member having abearing fitted thereto, the bearing being journalled on the pin, an end'member secured to the rod member and engaging the bearing to secure thelatter against rotation in the rod member, said end member having a cy-1g lindrical recess, and an annular piston engaged in said cylindricalrecess in sealing relation. said piston being axially movable relativeto the rod and end members and having an end face engaged in sealingrelationship with said crankpin journal end face, said pistonbeingpressed into said end face sealing engagement by lubricant pressureresulting from bearing end leakage.

- 11. In a connecting rod'bearing lubrication system, a crankpin journalfrom which lubricant is fed to the surface thereof, said journal havinga substantially plane end face, a connecting rod elementhaving a bearingengaging the journal, a member rigid with the element having 9. cy-

lindrical recess at an end thereof, and an annular 3o piston slidablyengaged in said cylindrical recess in oil sealing relation, said pistonhaving an end face engaged in sealing relationship with the end face ofsaid journal, said piston being pressed into said end face sealingengagement. by lubri-. g5 cant pressure resulting from end leakage oflubricant from the bearing into said cylindrical recess. 12. In aconnecting rod bearing lubrication system, a crankpin journal from whichlubricant is fed to the surface thereof, said journal having 40 asubstantially plane end face, a connecting rod element having a bearingengaging the journal,- a member rigid with the element having acylindrical recess at an end thereof, and an annular piston slidablyengaged in said cylindrical recess in oil sealing relation, said pistonhaving an end face engaged in sealing relationship with the end face ofsaid journal, said piston being pressed into said end face sealingengagement by lubricant pressure resulting from end leakage of lubricantfrom the bearing into said cylindrical recess,said piston havingcircumferentially spaced lubricant holes between its end sealing faceand its inner wall.

13. In a connecting rod bearing lubrication system, a crankpin journalfrom which lubricant is fed to the surface thereof, said journal havinga substantially plane end face, a connecting rod element having abearing engaging the journal,

a member rigid with the element having a cylindrical recess at an endthereof, and anannular piston slidably engaged in said cylindricalrecess, said piston having an end face engaged in sealing relationshipwith the end face of said journal,

said piston being pressed into said end face seal- 5 ing engagement bylubricant pressure resulting from ehd leakage of lubricant from thebearing into said cylindrical recess, said piston having a peripheralgroove and a split ring seated in said groove and engaging the surfaceof said cylina substantially plane end face, a connecting rod elementhaving a bearing engaging the journal,

. engaged in sealing relationship with the end face of said journal,said pistgn being pressed into said end face sealing engagement bylubricant pressureresulting from end leakage of lubricant from thebearing into said-cylindrical recess, and means to secure the piston androd member from relative rotation. I

. 15.\In a connecting rod bearing lubrication system, a crankpin journalfrom which lubricant is fed to the surface thereof, said Journal havinga substantially plane end face, a connecting rod element having abearing engaging the journal, a member rigid with the element having acylindrical recess at an end thereof, and an annular piston slidablyengaged in said cylindrical recess in oil sealing relation, said pistonhaving an end face engaged in sealing relationship with the end face ofsaid journal, said'piston being pressed into saidend face sealingengagement by-lubricant pressure resulting from end leakage of recess,said rod member having auxiliary rods borne therein and'having oil feedpassages leading from said cylindrical recess to the several auxiliaryrod bearings.

16. In a connecting rod bearing lubrication system, a crankpin journalfrom which lubricant is fed to the surface thereof, said journal havinga substantially plane end face, a connecting rod element having abearing engaging the journal,

a member rigid with the element having a cylin-* drical recess at an endthereof, an'annular piston slidably engaged in said cylindrical recessin oil sealing relation,.said pistonfhaving an end face engaged insealing relationship with the end face of said journal, said pistonbeing pressed into said end face sealing engagement by lubricantpressure resulting from end leakage of lubricant from the bearing intosaid cylindrical recess, and a light spring between the rod member andpiston to resiliently enforce engagement of the piston end face with thejournal plane face.

17. In a master rod having a bearing bore. and having a plurality ofknuckle pins spaced around said bore, 'a bearing shell fitted to the rodbore having teeth at one end of the bearing accessible at an end face ofthe rod, and. an annular member overlying an end face of the rod havinga toothed portion engaging saidbearing teeth and having outer portionsengaging said knuckle pins,

said member including an annular cavity to receive lubricant leakingfrom the bearing end and comprising conduits between said cavity and theknuckle pins.

18. In a master rod having a plurality of knuckle pins and including abearing bore, in combination, a master rod bearing fitted to the .boreand having its end projecting beyond an end face of the rod, saidbearing end having serrations therein, and a member overlying the endface of the rod having serrations'engaged with the'bearing serrations tolock'the bearing against rotation, having arms engaged with the knucklepins to prevent the member turning with respect to the rod, and havingpassages therein to conduct lubricant leaking from the bearing end tosaid knuckle pins.

. I I I HENRY I

